Film reel



March 8, 1955 c, w wARFlELD 2,703,684

FILM REEL Filed May 12, 1951 WWW United States Patent FILM REEL Charlie W. War-field, Washington, D. C.

Application May 12, 1951, Serial No. 226,013

1 Claim. (Cl. 242-72) The present invention relates to photographic equipment and more particularly has reference to means for enabling film to be easily and quickly wound or unwound on or from a reel and the like. The device is in the nature of an expansible core and can be used as the core or hub of the reel per se or be employed as an adapter for supporting all types of laboratory cores, such as used with rewind machines.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for winding film on reels whereby the film is fastly supported during the winding operation and yet can be readily manipulated to permit the wound film to be removed.

A further object of my invention is to provide core member for film reels which is simple in constructural details, inexpensive to manufacture and capable of being efficiently operated by unskilled workmen.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a core of the character described which is of considerably less diameter than conventional cores thereby permitting more film footage to be wound on the reels.

And still a further object of the present invention is to provide a core member broadly comprising a cup-like element extending perpendicularly from the reel flange, diametrically opposed leaves supported by and movable toward and away from the cup-like element and an operating member adapted to be inserted into the cuplike element to force the leaves outwardly, the withdrawal of the operating member permitting the leaves to move inwardly of the cup-like element.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a view in perspective of the component parts of the core assembly.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the core assembly supporting a laboratory core of the type having an internal keyway therein, the reel flanges being omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the unit shown in Figure 2, the view being at right angles to that of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to that depicted in Figure 2, the core assembly being used with a laboratory core provided with a depending key member, the reel flanges being omitted, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the unit showing the manner in which the operating member forces the leaves outwardly.

In Figure 1, it will be seen that indicates a flange of a film reel or spool, 11 is a cup-like element secured to the flange 10 and is provided with a central opening 12 which registers with a similarly located aperture 13 in the flange 10, the openings being adapted to receive a spindle or the like, not shown. The cup 11 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed elongated slots 14 and 15, the slots receiving legs 16 and 17 extending inwardly of a pair of arcuate leaves 18 and 19. The leaves overlie and are of the same width as the outer periphery of the cup-like element although adjacent ends of the leaves are spaced slightly apart as depicted at 20 to provide a longitudinal groove or keyway. The inner end of each of the legs 16 and 17 is formed with a lateral extension 21 to prevent the leaves from being detached from the cup-like element, and the lower face of each extension is of arcuate configuration (Figure 5).

Hence, it will be appreciated that the leaves are freely movable and to force the leaves outwardly, a plug unit 22 is adapted to be inserted into the cup body 11. The plug includes a shank 23 having spaced ribs 24 at the inner ends, the gaps 24' between the ribs being adapted to permit the shank to clear the legs 16, 17 and the extensions 21 upon insertion of the plug. The shank has a hub 25 near the outer end thereof and the hub as well as the ribs 24 are of the same diameter and that of the inner periphery of the cup 11 as perhaps best shown in Figure 3. The outer extremity of the shank carries a flange 26 of greater diameter than that of the hub and which is adapted to be in facial engagement with the other reel flange. The flange 26 also enables the plug to be inserted into or removed from the cup in an easy manner.

In a situation where the core is used with the reel, the end of the film is inserted in one of the grooves 20, and under one of the leaves. The shank 23 is then inserted in the cup and thereafter turned to bring the ribs 24 in rear of the extensions 21 and force the leaves outwardly. The film can then be wound on the leaves and to remove the film after winding, the shank is withdrawn from the cup by turning the shank until the gaps between the ribs line up with the legs 16 and 17 and by pulling the shank toward the open end of the cup, the leaves are free to move in the direction of the cup periphery and thus release the wound film. In order to prevent any binding of the parts, the outer face of the shank is eccentric as denoted at 28 and this arrangement facilitates the removal of the plug unit 22.

If the device is used with a laboratory core 23 having a keyway such as illustrated in Figure 2, the keyway being indicated 30, a screw 31' is tapped into the cup 11, the screw engaging the keyway. On the other hand, if the core 23A has a depending key 32 as shown in Figure 4, the key extends into one of the grooves 20. The unit is operated in the same fashion as previously described.

The flange 26 may be permanently secured to reel flange 33, as shown in Figure 3. It is, of course, ap parent that in situations where but a single flange is employed, the unit will operate satisfactorily, since the operator can grasp the flange 26 to give it a sufficient turn to aline the gaps between the ribs 24 with the legs 16 and 17.

While the description shows the reel being illustrated in connection with re-wind mechanisms, it is, of course, apparent that the inventive concept can be used in projection machines and the like.

This invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a reel for film, at least one flange, a hub carried by the flange, said hub comprising a circular cup body secured to the reel flange, means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in said cup body, a leg having a lateral extension projecting through each of said slots, a substantially semi-circular leaf carried by the free end of each leg, each of said leaves overlying the outer surface of said cup body, a plug element insertable at will in said cup body to engage said lateral extensions to force said leaves outwardly respecting the cup body, and a pair of spaced apart ribs on said plug element, the area between the ribs being adapted to register with said lateral extensions to permit the plug element to be inserted in the cup body and to provide a detachable connection between the cup body and the plug element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,401 Way July 17, 1923 1,492,291 Giovannoni et a1 Apr. 29, 1924 1,780,510 Wise Nov. 4, 1930 2,546,146 Popoli Mar. 27, 1951 

